And those kids who do develop those conditions might be in household where the dishwasher rules the kitchen cleaning plans. The study authors hypothesized that kids and families in developing countries have high standards of cleanliness. Dishwashers, by their virtue, are one of the most frequently-used cleaning devices in America. They're efficient, speedy, and do the job for you.

They also get rid of bacteria (much like hand sanitizer) that keeps kids and adults away from bacteria and microorganisms that could actually train your body to fight them naturally. So by being extra-careful about your dish washing process, you could, in fact, be inadvertently helping your family develop allergies.

Now there's a conundrum for us all.

Do you hand wash or use a dishwasher at home? Have you noticed a difference?